I always carry a red croissant in my wallet . It was given to me by my father and clearly tied to my Neapolitan origins. This leads to the next question: who invented superstitions, and therefore the concepts of luck and bad luck?
“Superstition is to religion as astrology is to astronomy, the foolish daughter of a prudent mother.” Voltaire
The origins of superstition
La superstition It is an element that varies depending on historical periods and populations. It derives from the Latin "superstitionem” composed of “super” (above) and “stitio” (state) = “to be above“, that is, being a witness to some past event recognized as having actually happened (Renzetti, 2010). Since the origins of man, there have been words, objects, plants, colors to which positive and negative values are attributed. Superstitions concern the irrational, magic, the abstract field of beliefs and the practical field of rites and ceremonies (Corso, 1937). According to several anthropologists, it was theNeanderthal man to create the first superstitious and spiritual belief: survival in the afterlife (Silvestrini, 2016). How to explain its origins? Simply, primitive man was looking for answers to indecipherable phenomena such as birth, death, eclipses, storms, blossoms, the sense of danger in animals, etc., so he began to believe in the existence of invisible spirits and superior, otherworldly interventions. Consequently, throughout history, he has adopted methods to protect himself from misfortunes such as toss a coin (devised by Julius Caesar), the use of the quatrefoil (in England, from 200 BC, luck was associated with its rarity), keep the fingers crossed (origins: pre-Christian era, in Western Europe; cross = symbol of unity and beneficent spirits), to impose one's will on chaos (Silvestrini, 2016).
Objects and symbols
When an object or symbol didn't work, others were adopted: many elements and expressions have been given magical meaning, intertwining irrationality, the earthly and the otherworldly. Here are other examples. The luck attributed to Horseshoe It comes from the Greeks, in the 4th century: the material to keep evil away and the half moon symbolizing fertility; while in Italy the expression “touch iron” is used, in English-speaking countries it is said “touch wood”, a custom dating back over four thousand years to the Indians of North America, with reference to the oak tree and its sacred powers. Carrying a hare's foot The use of black cats to obtain benefits has origins in 600 BC in Western Europe and is connected to totemism, according to which humans descended from animals: each tribe venerated and avoided killing its ancestral animal, using parts of it as amulets called totems (Silvestrini, 2016). In Ancient Egypt, cats were considered sacred and represented divinities. Domesticated in 3.000 BC, upon death, their bodies were embalmed: this testifies to the value attributed to them by wealthy families. The connection between black cats and witchcraft derives from the European Middle Ages. civetta, a symbol of wisdom and the arts (representing the goddess Athena for the Greeks), has been attributed negative omens and death. This is probably due to its nocturnal lifestyle and the melancholy song associated with funeral wakes. In fact, the houses where the deceased were kept awake were illuminated with artificial lights that attracted moths and other insects that owls feed on, so they could often be heard singing. Aunion between superstition and animals Still visible today: owls, little owls, and black cats are associated with witchcraft because they are "dark," mysterious, and nocturnal; other animals such as the elephant with its trunk raised, the ladybug, the frog, and the turtle symbolize good luck, wisdom, prosperity, and wealth.
Ladders, umbrellas and mirrors
How can we explain the customs and gestures against bad luck that have come down to us? There are further explanations. Why avoid... walking under a ladderIn Ancient Egypt, the triangle represented a sacred figure that should not be defiled, while in the Middle Ages, it was equivalent to the gallows from which one should keep a safe distance. Why avoid opening a umbrella in the houseIn the Victorian era, poorly developed practical opening mechanisms frequently caused domestic accidents. Because break a mirror Does seven years of bad luck bring? In Ancient Greece, people predicted the future through their reflection, and a distorted image was certainly not a good sign. Why not? spill the saltIn ancient times, it was considered a fundamental good for preserving meat, purifying water, and healing wounds. Where did the approval expressed by the thumbs up (the current equivalent of a Facebook like)? From Etruria in 500 BC, when this gesture implied saving someone's life, a practice later adopted by the Romans (Dembech, 1998).
Superstition for jurisprudence
Superstition is closely related to slander, to the gossip of "bringing bad luck." I'll cite two well-known examples (who knows how many more exist, unfortunately!): two true talents like Mia Martini and Marco Masini , driven from the music world by gossip in the star system . Mia Martini's life ended in tragedy, while Marco Masini managed to defeat the cowardice of absurd rumors, winning the Sanremo Festival. " Damned gossips ," sang Ivan Graziani. According to the Court of Cassation, it is a crime to tell someone they bring bad luck ; in fact, " anyone who uses terms that are offensive, based on the meaning they objectively assume, regardless of their cultural depth and scientific basis, commits the crime of defamation ." Wishing bad luck, on the other hand, is not a crime, as it corresponds to a wish, a prediction independent of the sender's will.
How to fight bad luck?
Is it possible to find a rational explanation for bad luck? Richard Wiseman , a British psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire in East England, has conducted several studies and research on bad luck. In his opinion, there are four commandments to follow to combat it:
1) have an open attitude to new experiences, be convivial;
2) follow your intuitions, avoiding overly rational behavior;
3) rely on lasting optimism;
4) don't stop at superficiality.
That is, according to this perspective, a favorable thought attracts positivity . Regardless of the veracity and existence of Lady Luck, superstitious gestures are taught from childhood and are gradually passed down from generation to generation: they represent a shared folk way to exorcise negativity. When in doubt, I hold my red horn.
Arianna Caccia
With a degree in Health and Lifestyle Sociology, I have a strong interest in the study and analysis of social phenomena. Always ready to learn and improve, I love reading, writing, Vasco Rossi and Rino Gaetano, and long walks in the countryside.
